Gulf War facts for kids

Quick facts for kidsPersian Gulf War
Date	August 2, 1990 – February 28, 1991
Location	Persian Gulf
Result	Coalition victory Iraq expelled from Kuwait; Kuwaiti monarchy restored; Destruction of Iraqi and Kuwaiti infrastructure; Failed Shia/Kurdish uprisings against the Iraqi government; Iraqi Kurdistan obtains autonomy, establishment of the northern Iraq no fly zone by the US; Saddam Hussein retains power; UN sanctions against Iraq maintained until 2003; United Nations Security Council Resolution 687 establishes cease-fire terms, beginning of the Iraq disarmament controversies;
Belligerents
United States; Saudi Arabia; United Kingdom; Egypt; France; Syria; Morocco; Kuwait; Oman; Pakistan; Canada; United Arab Emirates; Qatar; Bangladesh; Italy; Australia; Netherlands; Niger; Sweden; Argentina; Senegal; Spain; Bahrain; Belgium; Poland; South Korea; Norway; Czechoslovakia; Greece; Denmark; New Zealand; Hungary	Ba'athist Iraq
Commanders and leaders
Norman Schwarzkopf Jr.	Saddam Hussein
Strength
956,600, including 700,000 US troops	650,000 soldiers
Casualties and losses
Coalition:; 292 killed (147 killed by enemy action, 145 non-hostile deaths); 467 wounded in action; 776 wounded; 31 Tanks destroyed/disabled; 32 Bradley IFVs destroyed/damaged; ; 1 M113 APC destroyed; 2 British Warrior APCs destroyed; 1 Artillery Piece destroyed; 75 Aircraft destroyed; Kuwait:; 4,200 killed; 12,000 captured; ≈200 tanks destroyed/captured; 850+ other armored vehicles destroyed/captured 57 aircraft lost; At least 8 aircraft captured (Mirage F1s); 17 ships sunk, 6 captured	Iraqi:; 25,000–50,000; 75,000+ wounded; 80,000 captured; 3,300 tanks destroyed; 2,100 APCs destroyed; 2,200 Artillery Pieces destroyed; 110 Aircraft destroyed; 137 Aircraft escaped to Iran; 19 naval ships sunk, 6 damaged

The Persian Gulf War, sometimes just called the Gulf War, was a conflict between Iraq and 34 other countries, led by the United States. It started with the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq on August 2, 1990. Iraq had long claimed Kuwait as part of its territory. The war ended the following spring when Iraq's armies were defeated. There were two military operations.

Operation Desert Shield brought troops to protect Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states that Iraq had not attacked.

Operation Desert Storm attacked Iraq's forces both in Kuwait and in Iraq. It started on 17 January, 1991 with an air strike. Ground operations started 24 February. Iraqi forces set fire to oil wells to slow the attack.The war ended on 28 February, 1991 with a ceasefire.

The long Iran–Iraq War had ended in August 1988. Iraq owed a great amount of money to Saudi Arabia and had difficulty paying it back. Saddam Hussein declared the neighboring country of Kuwait to be siphoning Iraqi crude oil from across the border, and on August 2nd, 1990 the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait started. On January 17, 1991 the US began the Persian Gulf War with a massive US led air offensive known as Operation Desert Storm.

The attacks were assisted by newly developed weapons, including stealth aircraft, cruise missiles and smart bombs.

After 42 days of fighting U.S. President Bush declared a ceasefire on February 28. By that time most Iraqi forces in Kuwait had either surrendered or fled.

Operation Desert storm included a bombing campaign that targeted Iraqi aircraft, anti-aircraft systems, oil refineries, weapon factories, bridges, and roads. The war was a lopsided victory for coalition forces. President George Bush decided not to depose Saddam Houssein.

Political issues after Operation Desert Storm lead to the second Persian Gulf War in 2003.

Related pages

Images for kids

Map of Kuwait
Kuwaiti Armed Forces M-84 main battle tanks.
Iraqi Army T-72M main battle tanks. The T-72M tank was a common Iraqi battle tank used in the Gulf War.
An Iraqi Air Force Bell 214ST transport helicopter, after being captured by a US Marine Corps unit at the start of the ground phase of Operation Desert Storm.
President Bush visiting American troops in Saudi Arabia on Thanksgiving Day, 1990.
Saddam Hussein detained several Westerners, with video footage shown on state television
F-15Es parked during Operation Desert Shield.
US Army soldiers from the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade during the Gulf War
Nations that deployed coalition forces or provided support.
General Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. and President George H. W. Bush visit US troops in Saudi Arabia on Thanksgiving Day, 1990.
Dick Cheney meets with Prince Sultan, Minister of Defence and Aviation in Saudi Arabia to discuss how to handle the invasion of Kuwait
Medal for United States personnel.
Gen. Colin Powell (left), Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr., and Paul Wolfowitz (right) listen as Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney addresses reporters regarding the 1991 Gulf War.
The USAF F-117 Nighthawk, one of the key players in Desert Storm.
Scud Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL) with missile in upright position.
Aftermath of an Iraq Armed Forces strike on US barracks.
Iraqi tanks destroyed by Task Force 1-41 Infantry during the 1st Gulf War, February 1991.
Soldiers of 2nd Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment pose with a captured Iraqi tank during the 1st Gulf War, February 1991.
Donald Rumsfeld as US special envoy to the Middle East, meets Saddam Hussein on 19–20 December 1983.
A Iraqi Republican Guard tank destroyed by Task Force 1–41 Infantry during the 1st Gulf War, February 1991.
4th Battalion of the 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Armored Division(FWD) conducts artillery strikes on Iraqi positions during the 1st Gulf War. 4-3 FA was the primary fire support battalion for Task Force 1-41 Infantry during the 1st Gulf War, February 1991.
US tanks from the 3rd Armored Division along the Line of Departure.
101st Airborne Division helicopters transporting soldiers and equipment while conducting the deepest air assault operation in history during the 1st Gulf War, February 1991.
A Iraqi fighting position destroyed by the 101st Airborne Division during the 1st Gulf War, February 1991.
Iraqi Type 69 tank on the road into Kuwait City during the Gulf War.
Two Iraqi tanks lie abandoned near Kuwait City on 26 February 1991.
Destroyed LAV-25
Iraqi T-62 knocked out by 3rd Armored Division fire
Aerial view of destroyed Iraqi T-72 tank, BMP-1 and Type 63 armored personnel carriers and trucks on Highway 8 in March 1991
The oil fires caused were a result of the scorched earth policy of Iraqi military forces retreating from Kuwait
Remains of downed F-16C
Bradley IFV burns after being hit by Iraqi T-72 fire
Civilians and coalition military forces wave Kuwaiti and Saudi Arabian flags as they celebrate the retreat of Iraqi forces from Kuwait.
Coalition troops from Egypt, Syria, Oman, France and Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm.
HMAS Sydney in the Persian Gulf in 1991.
Argentine Navy Alouette III helicopter onboard USNS Comfort, February 1991.
Canadian CF-18 Hornets participated in combat during the Gulf War.
French and American soldiers inspecting an Iraqi Type 69 tank destroyed by the French Division Daguet during Operation Desert Storm.
British Army Challenger 1 main battle tank during Operation Desert Storm.
Sailors from a US Navy honor guard carry Navy pilot Scott Speicher's remains
Approximate area and major clashes in which DU rounds were used.
Oil well fires rage outside Kuwait City in 1991
The USS Missouri launches a Tomahawk missile. The Gulf War was the last conflict in which battleships were deployed in a combat role (as of 2017)
Military personnel examine the remains of a Scud